The Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards give global recognition to individuals and organizations for achievements and innovations which improve road safety. At a London ceremony on December 11, 2012, GRSP South Africa member organization, South Africans Against Drunk Driving (SADD), was presented this most prestigious award in the category of ‘Road Users’ for their work in universities throughout South Africa. Congratulations to SADD Founder and Director, Caro Smit and her team.

The SADD University Project, which began in 2008, is run in eight selected universities and will continue for many years to come. The project is educative, focusing on alcohol use amongst youth. It is structured so that peer educators work together with the university Counselling Departments to run interactive workshops teaching students about the harm excessive alcohol use causes to their bodies, their studies and on the roads.

The workshops take a non-judgemental approach, encouraging more responsible drinking, and drinking then driving habits, rather than promoting abstinence. They teach about units of alcohol and how they relate to blood and breath alcohol concentrations. They also discuss indicators of harmful drinking patterns so as to allow for early diagnosis and treatment.

Speaking to GRSP after returning from the awards ceremony, Caro Smit said: “The project is progressing strongly. Students are responding well and I am very proud of the work we are doing. This award of course is a terrific honour, and it comes as further confirmation that we are making a real difference; we’re saving lives”. (Pictured from left to right: Charlotte Sullivan, Prince Michael of Kent, Caro Smit)The judges were particularly impressed with the innovative and comprehensive way in which this educational campaign was delivered, and welcomed the significant involvement of the private sector in backing the initiative.